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Suggest Treatment For Esophagitis And Borderline Osteoporosis

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Posted on Mon, 11 May 2015
Question: about 8 months ago, i was diagnosed with esophagitis because i was getting a pain on the right side of my chest They did an endoscopy. I was put on omeprazole and ranitidine. My doctor took me off the omeprazole because I have borderline osteoporosis. I take over the counter omeprazole. I dont have the chest pain anymore or any other symptoms, but when i stop taking omeprazole, I get heartburn. When i start taking the omeprazole, it goes away. The ranitidine alone doesnt help. Why is this and is it that bad to continue to take the omeprazole since it does help?
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Answered by Dr. Sudhir (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Rather than continuous use, intermittent use can be tried.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

In view of symptoms you are likely to have chronic esophagitis, for which underlying cause can be gastroesophageal reflux, weakened lower esophageal sphincter, gastric stasis etc. These causes are common at your age. So that might be the reason esophagitis doesn't get resolved after primary treatment. A gastroentrologist can help you with this.

Other measures that can help are small meals, not sleeping immediately after meal, limit liquid at one time, avoiding bending after meals, sleeping on right side of body to help stomach empty fast, having walk after meal, maintaining good diet habits , avoid smoking or alcohol (if any) etc.

Rather than continuous use you can slowly taper use of omeprazole and then take it intermittently. It can lead to achlorhydria state (significantly reduced gastric acid production) and this will interfere your digestion and also absorption.

First see gastroentrologist for underlying cause, then make lifestyle changes and after this slowly taper omeprazole. This would be ideal approach.

Please ask if there are doubts. Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Sudhir

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 1415 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Esophagitis And Borderline Osteoporosis

Brief Answer: Rather than continuous use, intermittent use can be tried. Detailed Answer: Hello, In view of symptoms you are likely to have chronic esophagitis, for which underlying cause can be gastroesophageal reflux, weakened lower esophageal sphincter, gastric stasis etc. These causes are common at your age. So that might be the reason esophagitis doesn't get resolved after primary treatment. A gastroentrologist can help you with this. Other measures that can help are small meals, not sleeping immediately after meal, limit liquid at one time, avoiding bending after meals, sleeping on right side of body to help stomach empty fast, having walk after meal, maintaining good diet habits , avoid smoking or alcohol (if any) etc. Rather than continuous use you can slowly taper use of omeprazole and then take it intermittently. It can lead to achlorhydria state (significantly reduced gastric acid production) and this will interfere your digestion and also absorption. First see gastroentrologist for underlying cause, then make lifestyle changes and after this slowly taper omeprazole. This would be ideal approach. Please ask if there are doubts. Regards.